Calf Mt Shelter
Day: 18-2002
Mileage: 841.8
06/20/02 3:33 pm
Well I made it out of my second trail town for the trip.
Woke up and ate breakfast at Weasie's again. Well to be
more correct I at two breakfasts (waffles with bacon and
sausage then 2 eggs with ham, country fried potatos and
toast). Then I got a ride from Sherrie back to the hotel
to finish packing. When I was done I called Sherri but
she was taking two hikers to a mall 15 miles away, so I
called up the list and hit on my 4th try. Bill Nichols
drove me to the trail, small world, he lived in
Schenectady (of course he worked for GE) so we had a nice
chat, he also worked in computer control. Nice ride and
nice man.
The hike here was pretty much a repeat of '96, hot and
sunny although a nice breeze is blowing. So far all alone
here, but I am sure that will change. I just can't see
hiking 13 more miles to the next shelter today, but plan
on waking early tomarrow to hike in the cooler part of
the day.
06/20/02 8:59 pm
Here with Tin Tin from Austrailia. Nice guy. Befor he
showed up I had a good nap, saw a deer and observed her
for an hour and cooked dinner. Can't say I like the bear
bag arrangement or the privy (it STINKS) but the shelter
and company are both good.
Blackrock Hut
Day: 19-2002
Mileage: 854.8
06/21/02 2:06 pm
Just arrived at the shelter. Not 15 min. ago I saw my
first BEAR! It was above the trail and went over the top
when is saw/heard me. It was wearing a white id collar,
but I didn't see any id number on it. Of course it
happened so quickly I couldn't get a photo.
06/21/02 8:14 pm
Here with 2 thru hikers (tenting), and 3 short timers
including Bob who is a comidian (professional) and an
Austrialian who is doing the AT in SNP.
It dosen't seen like my bear sighting is that unusual, 4
others saw the smae bear in the same spot.
After arriving here earier, I took a good long nap. I
still do not know why I am so tired after only a few
miles.
Did find a black snake hanging off the back wall of the
shelter (on the outside), but it bowdes well for few if
any mice tonight.
06/22/02 8:23 am
Last night was a scream, Bob kept making comments about a
wip-o-will that wouldn't shut up and I thought I would
split a gut. Cool night, wish I would have gon outside
and did some star gazing, but couldn't bring myself to
get out of the sleeping bag.
Bob woke early this morning and got the rest of us up (of
course the wip-o-will was going too).
Last one in camp now, just cant seem to get going this
morning. Hope there is room in the campground or I will
be forced to do 13 for the day. Well see.
Pinefield Hut
Day: 86 20-2002
Mileage: 867.9
06/22/02 9:19 pm
Well today has been a great day. Started off with Bob
telling jokes. I woke early to Bob and the wip-o-will and
got a very slow start to say the least. It was near 9am
when I started hiking. Saw Del Doc going south from Black
Rock Overlook then spent a few minutes there looking
around. Started talking to an older lady and learned she
was Del Doe (Del Doc's wife). we had a good conversation
all the way to the car. Then I was hiking behind two
hikers from last night (the ausi and his friend). I
followed them all the way to Loft Mountain. I broke from
them there and got a shower and did some laudry. Then I
whent and ate ate the wayside. I had a cheese burger
combo, hot dog, chocolate milk and a bowl of ice cream.
Then I hiked to the shelter, wich was very easy hiking.
Met a thru hiker who was slackpacking with some freinds
and got a cookie and an apple (trail majic #1). Then I
get to camp and there are 4 people here. They had hot
dogs for an army so I ate 4! They also gave me a wine
cooler. Then two more people showed up, a father and his
son who was about 5. All the weekenders knew them from
last night and it was like being included in a family. It
was great. The only thing bad about today is that the
shower i took at Loft Mnt didn't last and my stomach is
having a problem with real food (as I expected it would).
Good day. Good Night Great people!
[Mike and Dominic (father and son, were great to be
around, boy that kid loves starwars)]
06/23/02 2:37 pm
One story I forgot to write; as I was walking from the
wayside back to the AT I ran into a guided nature walk.
After the ranger was done talking she asked if I would
like to pass the group and I said yes. On my way by she
asked it I was going all the way to Maine and I answered
"No, I'm only going to PA" at wich point one of the
people stared to laugh, "Oh ONLY to PA". I guess it is
funny to a person taking a one mile nature walk that I am
ONLY hiking some 300 miles!
Hightop Hut
Day: 21-2002
Mileage: 876.2
06/23/02 8:04 pm
Here at the shelter with6 others, 2 section hikers the
rest going all the way (including Relax from Isreal).
Uneventful day today except that I think I saw more dear
than people. Even saw my first Doe and Faun, but as usual
I couldn't get a photo.
Got out of camp really late this morning, more trail
majic from my "family": oatmeal, pancakes and virginia
ham. Mmmm Good!
Took a nap on they way here too, still tired all the
time.
No see-ums are plentiful here!
Lewis Mt Campground
Day: 22-2002
Mileage: 887.9
06/24/02 3:51 pm
Well the hike here has ok, but it is a little more humid
today. Still get way to winded when I hike.
Ended up renting a cabin here. It is expensive ($68) but
I get private bath with a shower and a REAL BED! I need
the comfort, last night I got little sleep due to ackes
and pains. The Shower felt great and now doing laudry
while annother hiker (Cheff-at least that is what I named
him last night) uses my shower.
No great overviews today, but 2 ok ones. Looking forward
to bologna sandwiches for dinner and a good night sleep.
Rock Spring Hut
Day: 23-2002
Mileage: 900.3
06/25/02 8:57 pm
Well, I awoke this morning fairly well rested (I awoke
once for about 45 min) and showered and then whent to the
store for breakfast. Had coffee, 2 bannana muffins and
juice. Got started very late on a hot day, but the hiking
was very easy (especially after the one big climb (Hazel
Top), the trail was so strieght and level you could see a
long way down the trail - see photo). Got to Big Medows
and whent into the resturant to be informed they closed
15 min before, so I hiked down to the wayside and had a
great meal of spegetti and meatballs with garlic bread, a
milkshake and ice tea. Then, with the threat of a
thundershower, I hiked tothis shelter. On Rain ever fell.
I wasn't that hungry but some short timers gave me some
noodles and sauce wich served as a light dinner.
So may deer around here it is not funny. Got a photo of
one infront of a "revegitation area" sign..hope it turns
out.
Mice in the shelter are numberous. already had one in a
pack here (not mine). Roumor says there is a rat too. Did
get a photo of the mice!
One persone here is "Baltemore Jack" who has hiked 7
times! His claim to fame is that he discovered the dead
guy in the Hotel in Duncannon!
Well time to get some sleep if the heat and mice will let
me.
06/26/02 9:28 am
Well the mice were a very big annoance last night. There
must have been at least a dozen of them. They woke me up
at least 5 times. No Rats thank G_d!
Off to a very late start with a 15 mile day coming up.
Still hot but a little less humid (but not by much).
Skyland
Day: 24-2002
Mileage: 904.9
06/26/02 7:20 pm
OK, I got sucked into civilization. Started hiking late,
around 10am. Got here just as lunch was being served so
I ate a pizza and then decided not to start hiking until
the food settled. Well the clouds were building for an
afternoon storm and the thought of a real dinner and
sheets did me in, I decided to stay. Good thing because
there were a few drops as I went down to the cabin and a
big thunderstorm an hour latter. But I was nice and
compfy on the bed taking a nap (until thunder awoke me).
Just got back from dinner. I had Prime Rib with a baked
potato and home made bread. I also indulged in a desert
of an apple crip ala mode (more like an apple bread
pudding than a crips but it was good and filling too!)
Plan tomarrow is to wake up before 7:30, pack and then go
eat breakfast and be on the trail before 8:30, we will see
if that happens!
Pass Mt Hut
Day: 25-2002
Mileage: 915.6
06/27/02 9:27 pm
Today was a good day. Woke at 6am and packed up and was
out by 7am. Did NOT eat breakfast at the resturant wich
helped with the early start.
The day started cool and breezy. Made it to Birds Nest #3
by 10:30 where I stoped for a hot lunch of ramen and a
long break.
Then the next part up to Mary's Rock had some nice views.
Took the side trail to Mary's Rock wich was well worth
it. It was almost as good as Spy Rock. It stared getting
hot on the way down however.
Then I got to Panarama, the resutrant was closed (as the
trail Registers warned) but I filled up with lemonaid and
junk food. Stayed for some time and it looked like rain,
so I stayed longer. It poored but I was dry. The rain
cooled things off a bit. I started hiking after 5:30pm
when the store closed and got here with little problem
(only sliped a few times on wet rocks).
Overall a good day!
Gravel Springs Hut
Day: 26-2002
Mileage: 928.8
06/28/02 9:54 pm
Well today was a LONG day. Woke up early, but noone else
stired for an hour or two. Finaly got up anyway! Everyone
got up befor "The Griswalls" (A father and 2 daughters
who were out for a week and were always intertaining)
were woken up by fireworks out side there tent. It was no
surprise, they were told the night before that it was
going to happen.
Started hiking late, around 10am. My right foot (outside
of my foot between the ankle and heel) was killing me.
Also had the FARTS so bad I felt I was going to explode.
If anyone would have hiked behind me today they would
have gotten quite a concert!
Go to Elkwallow Gap Wayside and was feeling a little
better. Had a cheeseburger combo, the last for SNP and
vegged out for a long while. A Ranger came and talked to
me and the other hikers for a while and even checked my
permit. No prroblems though. It did threaten to rain, but
never did. Ended up leaving at 5pm or so after getting
free fuel fillup (thanks to the staff)! Got to the
shelter just befor dark, big warning about rats in the
shelter, so I decided to bivey. The camp sites here suck!
Up a terrible path, none are flat and all are the size of
a small child! Barily able to fit my bivey on any of the
sites!
My stomach is still feeling wierd, I hope it was from the
stuff I have eaten (potato chips, soads, cheeseburgers,
candybars ect) and not the water. It might also be the
amount of 'Vitamin I' I have been taking, wont be a
problem tomarrow, I only have two left (this could be
bad)!
[camped with Buckshot]
Tom Floyd 'Wayside'
Day: 27-2002
Mileage: 939.3
06/29/02 3:44 pm
Well I am out of SNP! Made it here a while ago and went
down, down, down, down for water. Just a trickle coming
out of the spring. Stayed there a half hour came back
with maybe a quart. Luckly I have a quart I pumped from
Compton Spring..
Hot hiking today! Also when you exit SNP the trail goes
to shit for about 0.3 miles. Streight down, rocks, rocks
and more rocks and most loose. I almost fell a few times.
Digressding for one moment, this morning I had a little
adventure getting my pack down from the bear pole. It
seems the bees thought it was the find of a lifetime.
There were some 30 bees on or around my pack. I was able
to get it down and convice the bees to leave without
being stung. Also, right after the bee incident, two
mainainers showed up to work on the hut. I talked to them
and yes there are rats in the hut, but they cant get rid
ofthem because they are 'wood rats' wich they said were
are oin endnagered species list so they can't be killed.
The NPS told them they would attempt to live trap them
soon.
Back to the present, this is a neat shelter. The book
says it was the first with a deck. It is a shame the
water source is so bad, since they spent so much time and
effort to build this premo shelter.
06/29/02 8:57 pm
This is a different shelter experiance, there a 4 women
(Tooty and Pooty [Minus eddie the wonder dog] and Jesica
(Turtle Soldur) and Lauren who are hiking for Habitat for
Humanity www.habitatlb.org/AThike) here and 2 other men
(who dont hang around the shelter much). I will admit the
conversation is much more intelligent! Talk of social
reform, housing issues, homessness, not the sports scores
and mocho stuff. It is a nice change of pace.
Front Royal, VA
Day: 28+29-2002
Mileage: 942.4
06/30/02 10:36 pm
What a day! Hiked down from the shelter to the road.
Nothing spectacualr to report except that I did meet the
local ridge runner Rocks (2000 thru hiker). When I hit
the road, I changed my shirt and stuck out my thumb, a
pickup going the wrong direction did a u-ey and picked me
up and drove me into the Blue Ridge Motel. After waiting
to make sure I could get a room, they then offered to
cook dinner for me. I took a swim in the pool, took a
shower, watched my favorite motie (Apollo 13) then did my
laundry and ate lunch at Arbey's. Then, as promised,
Randy picked me up at 7pm and took me out to their place.
Randy and Cookie Day were the best. Nice folks. I declare
them true "Trail Angles!" I MUST send them a thank you
when I get home. I can't belive my luck!
Along with them, their neigbors were there. Good company,
terrific food and GREAT PEOPLE! There was steak, salid,
potatoes and ice cream. Someone nearby was also setting
off fireworks! Again, I can't belive my luck!!!
This was The Best trail majic I have ever gotten!!!
07/01/02 11:33 pm
Well took the day off, all I did was eat, sleep, eat, get
a cab to Lynden to get my mail drop, swim, eat and soon
back to sleep. Needed the day off and time to heal a bit
(right ankle still bugging me). Talked to mom and dad
tonight as well. tomarrow I start on the final leg of my
trip. Weather report says HOT!
